I know I'm looking at this through Spurs-tinted specs, but I cannot help but feel we have had more than our fair of massive decisions go against us this year. I'm thinking big but bad calls, real examples of inept refereeing. Enough is enough.
Last year, I emailed the FA via their "have your say" page and asked for clarification - why was VDV booked for doing the shhhhh celebration in front of the Emirates, whilst Arsharvin did the same thing in front of the Paxton in the earlier Carling Cup tie - as he does every blue moon when he scores - and got nothing. At first I thought I was being fobbed off when the reply came back saying "we are drawing this to the attention of our referee liaison Mike Riley" but I did actually get a personalised reply from the former ref a few days later (He explained that VDV was aiming his celebration at the Arsenal fans where as Arsharvin was not spacing the Spurs fans... I'd still raise the question why that celebration right in front of Spurs fans on all sides, but that's by the by).
So Id like to email them again, point out the numerous examples of severely bad refereeing that have cost us this year, and challenge them to do something about this. Quite what, I don't know.... But I feel positively cheated that, with the amount of time and money I invest into this team, and the respect I am expected to show, a group of people are so so bad at their job.
If any of you can help with either the detail of below, or add in other key examples (for and against spurs, I'd like to provide a balanced view) then I would be grateful.
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The only significant decision like this for us was the sending off of Cahill(?) at home to Bolton in the league. However, I believe we were 1-0 up at the time, in hardly the most crucial game of the season. The other big decision we got was VDVs "handball" in the home league game against Arsenal, although I don't think this was blatant - did Arsenal even contest it at the time?
Against us, I have:
Stoke away - Crouch handballs to set up Stoke goal; Shawcross handballs Kaboul shot on the line, no penalty/red card (gets a yellow that leads to a sending off for pointing out the bleeding obvious to Foy); Adebayor wrongly adjudged offside ruling out a goal.
Second half we had x4 good penalty calls, and got one. Kaboul sending off was a joke.
Chelsea home - Cole? Handball in direct run up to goal.
Adebayor had a legit goal chalked out for offside IIRC. Three in a few games. All 3 were onside.
Wolves home - Adebayor wrongly adjudged offside again
Emirates Marketing Project away - Balotelli kicks Parker in the head in front on referee Howard Webb. No foul. Balotelli stays on the pitch, scores winning goal.
Lescotts 4 arm smash on Kaboul. Straight red. It wasn't given.
Man U home - Adebayor penalised for handball costing us a goal - even though the previous week an identical decision was given against us (help me out please someone, can't remember the details?)
Chelsea FA Cup - Mata shot does not cross the line, or go anywhere near the line. Linesman tells Bale he didn't think it was in. Referee Martin Atkinson does not see ball cross the line (it is impossible, as the ball didn't!) but chooses to award goal.
Kick on Parker. Beckham was sent off in the WC for exactly the same.
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Like I said, this might be coming from a biased view point. But I'd like to have the argument ready, to challenge the FA. Or be ready to comment on Talksport, or just to have something ready to throw back at the gloaters at work tomorrow. It might not achieve much, but at least I'll feel better!